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The market remains broadly stable, with weak trading sentiment.

Published on 2026-10-20
  1. Today's Summary

① No new reports of plant fluctuations in the region; supply remains relatively ample.
② On the raw material side, Propylene Oxide (PO) market prices saw some negotiation today. Shandong PO ex-factory price was 11,400–11,500 RMB/ton, indicating a downward trend in costs.

  1. Spot Market Overview

Table 1: Domestic Propylene Glycol (PG) Supply Chain Price Summary (Unit: RMB/ton)

Market Specification Oct 19 Oct 20 Change % Change
Shandong Industrial Grade 9025 8975 -50 -0.55%
Jiangsu Industrial Grade 8775 8775 0 0.00%
Guangdong Industrial Grade 8800 8800 0 0.00%
Downstream & Related Products
Unsaturated Resin East China 191# 10700 10700 0 0.00%
Unsaturated Resin East China 196# 11400 11400 0 0.00%
Elastomer Polyether Shandong 210 12350 12350 0 0.00%
Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) Shandong 5275 5150 -125 -2.37%
Key Upstream Materials
Propylene Oxide (PO) Shandong 11500 11450 -50 -0.43%
Propylene Shandong 10565 10475 -90 -0.85%
Methanol Central Shandong 3465 3465 0 0.00%
Data Source: Chempricehub

Based on the Shandong region as a benchmark, today's PG receiving prices in Shandong ranged from 8,500 to 9,450 RMB/ton, showing a slight decrease compared to the previous period.

The Shandong market price range weakened slightly. Buyers were cautious, with manufacturers focusing on shipments and the price center shifting downward. The East China market remained temporarily stable, with limited enthusiasm among downstream buyers to chase higher prices. The South China market held steady overall, with attention focused on regional plant operations amid a quiet trading atmosphere.

  1. Production Dynamics

Propylene glycol capacity utilization is around 50%. Weekly output increased compared to last week, while profitability declined, resulting in theoretical losses for today.

  1. Market Sentiment

Table 2: Sentiment Forecast from Domestic PG Upstream and Downstream Participants

Viewpoint Number of Respondents Percentage Week-on-Week Change
Bullish 0 0% 0%
Bearish 21 70% 0%
Neutral 9 30% 0%
Data Source: Chempricehub
  1. Price Forecast

Looking ahead, cost pressure from the raw material side, specifically Propylene Oxide (PO), continues to weaken, with limited positive market support. PO is expected to trade weakly. In the PG market, the co-product Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) continues its downward trend, while PG demand remains sluggish. Customer sentiment is dominated by wait-and-see attitudes. As PO prices soften, PG prices are expected to test lower levels. However, given that current theoretical production profits for PG are negative, close attention should be paid to raw material trends during price fluctuations.

  1. Related Product Updates

Unsaturated Resin Market: Prices in East China remained stable today. Traders actively shipped goods according to market conditions, while downstream procurement was driven by immediate needs, with small-lot transactions dominating.

Polyether Market: The spot market showed weak activity. Holders negotiated aggressively to push sales, but inquiries were sparse, and market entry was limited. Purchasing was primarily based on rigid demand. Focus remains on downstream sentiment and raw material news.

  1. Data Calendar

Table 3: Domestic PG Data Overview (Unit: Tons)

Indicator Release Date Previous Period Data Expected Trend for Current Period
Weekly PG Capacity Utilization Rate Thursday 17:00 PM 56.96% ↗
Weekly PG Output Thursday 17:00 PM 19,600 ↗
Data Source: Chempricehub Notes: 1. ↓↑ indicates significant fluctuation, highlighting data dimensions with changes exceeding 3%. 2. ↗↘ indicates minor fluctuation, highlighting data dimensions with changes within 0-3%.

Comments

0
  • Hannah Berg 2026-10-20 20:06
    With PO costs sliding and capacity utilization rising, PG producers face theoretical losses. Weak downstream demand in Shandong keeps sentiment bearish. I expect prices to stay soft until supply tightens or margins recov..
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